Cardinals awarded three compensatory NFL draft picks

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Steve Wilks is introduced as the new head coach of the Arizona Cardinals during a press conference on Jan. 23, 2018 at the Arizona Cardinals Training Facility in Tempe, Ariz. Wilks was the defensive coordinator with the Carolina Panthers.(Photo: Rob Schumacher/azcentral sports)

The Cardinals have been awarded three compensatory selections in this year’s NFL draft due, the league announced on Friday.

The Cardinals will have additional selections in the third, fourth and seventh rounds as compensation for suffering losses in free agency a year.

Five defensive starters from 2016 left via free agency, including defensive end Calais Campbell and safeties Tony Jefferson and D.J. Swearinger.

Statistically, the Cardinals' 2017 defense didn’t suffer, finishing with nearly similar statistics as it did in 2016.

The Cardinals traded offensive lineman Tony Bergstrom to the Ravens last September for a conditional seventh-round pick. But Bergstrom played in just four games for the Ravens, so the Cardinals did not receive the draft pick in return.

The Cardinals previously traded their fourth-round pick to the Bears to move up to draft safety Budda Baker a year ago. They traded their sixth-round pick to the Saints for running back Adrian Peterson and their seventh-rounder to the Chiefs for cornerback Marcus Cooper in 2016.

Compensatory picks are determined by a formula based on salary, playing time and postseason honors.